Ice pushmobile



Jan. 11, 1938. H. NODLAND ICE PUSHMOBILE Filed May 19, 1937 I N VE/V T0/i'.

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3) ///5 firromvfrs. Mmm y Wlfiwm Patented Jan. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a coasting device of a type which is provided with runners and is adapted to be propelled over ice or upon fairly hard packed snow.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a device wherein the runner elements are extremely flexible and capable of being flexed from their longitudinally straight position for either guiding or stopping it.

Another object is to provide a snow or ice glider which can be easily and quickly collapsed for shipment and storage.

A further object is to provide means for supporting a rider in sitting position in combination with means for steering the glider, these same elements also being arranged to provide a reinforcement for the assembled structure.

A still further object is to provide foot-rests upon which a person may stand when coasting 20 down hill or after having attained a desired speed as a result of running across ice and the like and pushing the glider while running.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear in the follow- 25 ing description made in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters refer to the same similar parts throughout the views and in which:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing parts of the 9 device in collapsible position dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a plain view;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

There is illustrated in the drawing a glider which includes a pair of runners 5 which are preferably formed of relatively thin flexible strips of metal such as iron. The forward ends of the 40 runners are curved upward as shown in Fig. 1.

Joining the forward ends of the runners 5 is a frame cross member 6 which is connected with the runners ends by bolts 1 which are secured by nuts 8. The bolts 1 and nuts 8 provide a 45 pivotal connection between the ends of the runners 5 and the cross member 6. This connection across the front ends of runners 5 will naturally prevent lateral movement of one runner in respect to the other with the extreme front ends 50 of the runners, but it in no way affects the flexibility of the runners throughout the rest of their length.

In the part embodiment shown in the drawing I have provided what may be termed a steering 55 frame indicated generally by the letter F. This frame comprises a pair of lateral uprights 9 which are pivotally connected to their respective runner elements by means of pivot pins III which extend through the overlapping portions of the blades II and [2. These blades are se- 5 cured respectively to the side members each of the runner elements 5. Intermediate of the ends of the side members 9 is disposed a horizontal bar I 3 and at the upper ends of the side members 9 is secured a handle 14 which is used as a steerl0 ing handle as well as a pusher bar.

I have also made provisions for seating a rider at the forward part of the glider. This seating area includes a pair of combined seat side elements and regular element l5. The lower for- 15 ward ends of the side element 15 are mounted upon the bolts 1 which connect the front cross member 6 with the forward ends of the runners.

I prefer that chair elements l5 be revised by providing a strap l6 whose ends are secured to the lower ends of the side chair elements and whose intermediate portion extends across the front of the glider and is connected rigidly with the frame cross member 6 by means of suitable connectors such as rivets H. The strap I6 for cross member 6 provides foot rest for the seated rider and to give this foot rest a comfortable width I have inserted a wooden piece I8 between strap and frame cross member. The upper portions of the seat side elements I5 are connected by slats I9 which form the seat proper.

The seat is provided with a reenforced back bar 20, which is secured to the upper rear end of the seat side elements by means of hooked shaped straps 2| which are secured to said seat side elements by screws 22 and whose rear ends extend backward beyond the ends of the elements l5 and formed with a substantial U shaped hook end. The hook like elements 2| are adapted to fit over cross member [3 which connects the medial portions of the uprights 9.

A lock connection between the transverse elements l3 and 20 is provided. The upper element 20 is provided with a centrally positioned vertical elongated slot 23, which is adapted to fit over the T shaped bolt 24, the latter extending downward through the cross bar l3 and being provided at a projecting lower end with a nut 25 which may be in the form of a single nut. When the T head of the bolt 24 is turned transversely to the glider the slotted upper cross member 20 can be slipped over the head of the bolt. Then the bolt is turned so that its head is longitudinal to the glider in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. After this has been done the assembly can be securely tightened by the rotation of the nut 25. It is provided that a plate '26 be positioned beneath the head of the nut 24 to prevent wear.

Rearward of the upright side elements 9 and on each of the runners 5 is positioned a foot rest 21. This foot rest or pair of foot rests is provided with downwardly pressed transverse grooves or depressions 28, and longitudinally of the foot rest and through said depressed portions are slots 29. It will be noted that ,the slots are narrower at the central portions of the depressed area 28 than they are adjacent the main flat faces of the foot-rests themselves. By making the narrower portions of the slots 29 of slightly less width than the thickness of the runners 5 it will be seen that the foot-rest can be pressed down over the top edges of the runners and there will be a spring action between the divided halves of the depressed portions or grooves 28, which will retain the rest on the runners with a spring clip action. The foot-rests are readily detachable and may be moved either forward or backward with respect to the runners by either slipping them off the runnersand replacing them or by sliding the rests forward or backward on the runners. I have also provided punched apertures 30 whose edges project upwardly to form an anti-slip surface on the top of each foot rest.

I have described above the means by which the glider can-be set up for use or collapsed for shipment or storage. When it has been set up in the position shown in full lines in Fig. l, a rider may sit on the seat provided between elements l5 and slats .I9 and he may bepropelled over the surface of a frozen lake or. stream or he may glide down hill over relatively hard packed snow. Regardless ofwhether there is a rider seated on the front of the glider it is used by a person standing on the foot-rests 27 as follows: The operator grips the steering and pushing handle I 4 and running between the spaced parallel runners 5 will set the glider in motion and then place his feetupon the footrests and coast along either a flat surface or down hill. Of course, initial movement of the device may be obtained by pushing with one foot while the other remains upon one of the foot rests. The direction of travel can be controlled by manipulating. the handle l4 and the runners 5 will be bent in a curve to steer the device in one direction or another. Even with the weight of the person riding on the seat, it is extremely easy to steer the glider due to the extreme flexibility and the minimum of inter-connections of the runners 5.

Now suppose that the operator desires to retard the speed or to stop the glider. All that is necessary is for the operator standing upon the foot-rest 21 to spread his feet a little-pushing the flexible runners laterally away from each other and an extremely effective and simple braking action is produced. v

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a glider which I prefer to call a snow and icepushmobile which is of extremely inexpensive and simple construction, which is light in weight and which is also collapsible so that it can be easily carried and can be stored in a relatively small space. It should further be noted that in assembling or dismantling the device it is necessary only to release the single connection extending between bolt 24 and the adjacent parallel cross members through which it extends.

It is to be understood that various changes can be made in the form, details, proportions and arrangement of the various parts without departing from thescope of my invention.

What is claimed is: 7

An ice and snow glider and the like comprising a front cross member. a pair of runners extending backwardly from said cross member, said runners comprising laterally flexible metal strips, a steering device pivotally connected to said runners rearwardly of said cross member, said steering device comprising a pair of uprights, a connecting bar extending between said uprights intermediate of theirends and having a T shaped bolt extending upwardly therethrough, and a seat device, the rear portion of which has an upwardly extending slot therethrough; said slot being so shaped that said T shaped bolt will pass therethrough when said slot and bolt are aligned,

and said slot further being shaped to prevent passage of said bolt therethrough when the bolt and slot are notaligned.

HENRY NODLAND. 

